BILL NUMBER: ACR 49	CHAPTERED  05/12/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   28
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   MAY 12, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 10, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   MAY 6, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 6, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 29, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Correa, Villaraigosa, Calderon,
Cardenas, Cedillo, Ducheny, Firebaugh, Florez, Gallegos, Havice,
Reyes, Romero, and Soto
   (Principal coauthors:  Senators Burton, Alarcon, Baca, Escutia,
Figueroa, Ortiz, Polanco, and Solis)
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Aanestad, Ackerman, Alquist, Aroner,
Bates, Battin, Baugh, Bock, Brewer, Briggs, Campbell, Cardoza,
Corbett, Cox, Cunneen, Davis, Dickerson, Dutra, Frusetta, Hertzberg,
Honda, House, Jackson, Keeley, Kuehl, Leach, Lempert, Leonard,
Longville, Lowenthal, Machado, Maddox, Maldonado, Margett,
McClintock, Migden, Olberg, Oller, Robert Pacheco, Rod Pacheco,
Papan, Pescetti, Runner, Scott, Shelley, Steinberg, Thompson,
Thomson, Torlakson, Vincent, Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins,
Wildman, and Zettel)
   (Coauthors:  Senators Bowen, Brulte, Chesbro, Dunn, Hayden,
Haynes, Hughes, Johannessen, Johnson, Kelley, Knight, Leslie, Lewis,
McPherson, Monteith, Morrow, Peace, Perata, Poochigian, Rainey,
Speier, Vasconcellos, and Wright)

                        APRIL 21, 1999

   Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 49--Relative to Cinco de Mayo.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 49, Correa.  Cinco de Mayo.
   This measure would call on the people of California to join in
celebrating Cinco de Mayo, the historic date of May 5, 1862, as a day
to honor the valiant spirit of the brave Mexicanos who defended the
town of Puebla and the Mexican Americans of today who have fought and
died for the freedom of the United States of America and would
declare the week of May 2 through May 8 as Cinco de Mayo Week.




   WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, is a date of great
importance to the vast communities of Mexicans and Mexican Americans
in California and across the United States; and
   WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo has been recognized as a significant day in
the history of Mexico and California by the recent introduction of
the Cinco de Mayo stamp; and
   WHEREAS, On May 5, 1862, French troops by the order of Napoleon
III and under the command of General Latrille, launched an invasion
in the Mexican town of Puebla; and
   WHEREAS, Mexican forces, determined to protect hearth and home,
decided to make their stand defending the strategic town of Puebla
against a hostile foreign invasion; and
   WHEREAS, A spirited and courageous garrison of Mestizo and Zapotec
Indians, outgunned and outnumbered over two to one, commanded by
General Ignacio Zaragoza, successfully withstood a French offensive
of battle-ready troops; and
   WHEREAS, The French general, overconfident in his highly polished
troops and underestimating the heart and desire of a handful of
Mexican soldiers to do battle, expected minor opposition from the
Mexican army.  Unbeknownst to the French general, the ill-equipped,
untrained, poor, and hungry Mexican forces possessed much more spirit
and courage than his French troops that were ranked among the finest
in Europe.  For the Mexican battalion, its stand against the French
invasion forces involved not only a struggle against a foreign
aggressor but a struggle for self-determination; and
   WHEREAS, The "Batalla de Puebla" resulted in the routing of the
once handsome French army by the determined, valiant, and highly
spirited Mexican troops.  The courageous and heroic spirit that
General Zaragoza and his men displayed during this historic battle
should never be forgotten; and
   WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo is not only the commemoration of the defeat
of the French at the town of Puebla in Mexico, but also a
celebration of the virtues of courage and patriotism of all Mexicans
and Mexican Americans who have fought for freedom and independence
against foreign aggressors; and
   WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo reminds us that the foundation of our
nation is built by people from many nations and diverse cultures who
share a readiness to shed blood, sweat, and tears in the pursuit of
freedom and liberty; and
   WHEREAS, In a broader sense, Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the right of
a free people to self-determination just as Benito Juarez, the
President of Mexico, said, "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz."
(The respect of other people's rights is peace.); now, therefore, be
it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
hereby calls on the people of California to join in celebrating Cinco
de Mayo as a day to honor the valiant spirit of the brave Mexicanos
who defended the town of Puebla with corazon (heart) and might and
the Mexican Americans of today who have fought and died for the
freedom of the United States of America; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature hereby recognizes not only May 5 as
Cinco de Mayo day but also the week of May 2 through May 8 as Cinco
de Mayo Week; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for distribution.
